Football 9/5/2024 7:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Open 2024 Season Saturday Night

Central Oklahoma Hosts Langston In Historic Opener

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma begins the 2024 football season Saturday night with a renewed rivalry as Langston visits Chad Richison Stadium for a non-conference clash kicking off at 7 p.m.

UCO and Langston first played in 1956 and played 38 times over the next 44 years. However, it's been since 1999 that the two schools separated by less than 30 miles met on the football field.

"We're excited for the game obviously because it's the season opener, but also so much more because it's Langston," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "I've learned a lot about the history of these two schools and we're excited to add another chapter this weekend."

Central Oklahoma owns a 32-5-1 advantage in the all-time series. In addition to the game itself, Saturday will also feature a throng of promotions and excitement for fans heading to Chad Richison Stadium.

Former Langston star Hollywood Henderson, who won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys, and former Central Oklahoma star Keith Traylor, who won three Super Bowls in his career, will be on site and are serving as special guests for the coin toss. Both bands, a rarity in college football, will be in the crowd playing along with the action all evening. Both will also perform in an action-packed halftime show that features more than 400 band members between the two schools. Capping off the night is a drone show for the fans immediately following the final whistle.

On the field, Central Oklahoma looks to improve as Dorrel enters his third season leading the program. The Bronchos went 6-5 in Dorrel's first season and then 5-6 last fall. UCO is 11-11 in his two seasons, with a 9-2 home record and a 2-9 road record.

The Bronchos did improve offensively in 2023. UCO increased its passing, rushing and total yards gained on the season, as well as first downs made, and touchdowns scored. Dorrel will lean on 60 returning lettermen, including 15 that started at least five games last year, to continue that upward trend this season.

A big part of the offensive success hinges on quarterback play and Dorrel has two QBs competing for time heading into Week 1. Sixth-year senior and second-year Broncho Dawson Herl, who has nearly 5,000 yards passing yards and 35 touchdowns in his career, is contending for the job looking to finish his career in style. He threw for 1,600 yards and 14 scores for the Bronchos last fall. Newcomer Jett Huff, a sophomore QB from Texas who spent the last two seasons at Houston, is also contending for time.

Whichever QB gets the start – both could play too – will have veteran weapons to throw to in the passing game. Terrill Davis, Jacob Delso, and Christian Romero return, and six of the top eight receivers from last year are all back. Davis and Delso have a combined 1,600 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in the last two seasons for Central. The two figure to be the top targets, in addition to some newcomers that make their debuts Saturday night.

Herl is officially the leading returning rusher with 153 yards last fall. But Jaylen Cottrell, a fifth-year junior, and Andrew Carney, a true junior, are also back with big-play capabilities and experience ready to run the ball. Cottrell came to UCO as a receiver and caught an 85-yard touchdown pass last year. That was just bigger than his 83-yard touchdown run two seasons ago. Carney, a bruising fullback, has the ability to move the chains on every short distance play from scrimmage for the Bronchos.

On the defensive side of the ball, Central Oklahoma has a new staff, with Cody Swanson taking over as coordinator and defensive line coach. Jesse Harwell, Thomas Pearson, and Kamau Dumas are also new staff members. The 3-3-5 defense UCO has run the last two years should improve with this group that has a successful history of running the scheme. Swanson, Pearson, and Dumas all come from the same coaching tree and have worked together in the past. The staff believes Central is primed for a bigger year on this side of the ball in 2024, with Swanson and crew focusing on, "All About That Ball," with hopes of forcing more turnovers and getting the defense off the field this fall.

With that, UCO also returns eight of the top 10 tacklers from last year's squad. Connor Johnson, Jack Puckett, Zhyon Bell, and Noah West all come back at linebacker with 178 combined tackles last fall. Zane Adams, Hunter Largent, and Lemuel Gordon return up front as leading tacklers, while Johnny Wilson is also back on the edge ready to make a difference.

In the secondary, Johnathan Mosley, JK Moore, Kobey Stephens and Grant Lohr return, with Dylan Buchheit also back after the sixth-year senior missed last fall due to injury.

UCO is aware of its need to increase turnovers in 2024. The Bronchos had eight interceptions in 11 games last season and zero fumble recoveries.

Central Oklahoma also returns specialists Nicky Quevedo and Grayson Miller. Quevedo was an All-American in 2022 and has scored 150 points for the Bronchos since 2021. Miller earned All-MIAA last fall as a punter after ranking second in the league in yards per kick.

Central Oklahoma opens the 2024 season with Langston Saturday night. The Bronchos will have back-to-back home games, hosting No. 2 Central Missouri in Week 2. UCO also hosts (RV) Fort Hays State, No. 22 Northwest Missouri, No. 6 Pittsburg State, and (RV) Emporia State this season.

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Players Mentioned

#57 Zane Adams: DL; 6' 1"; Junior

#46 Zhyon Bell: LB; 6' 1"; Senior

#10 Dylan Buchheit: DB; 6' 1"; Senior

#18 Andrew Carney: RB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#20 Jaylen Cottrell: RB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#8 Terrill Davis: WR; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#1 Jacob Delso: WR; 6' 0"; Junior

#21 Connor Johnson: LB; 6' 3"; Junior

#97 Hunter Largent: DL; 6' 2"; Junior

#25 Grant Lohr: LB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#57 Zane Adams
: 6' 1"; Junior
: DL

#46 Zhyon Bell
: 6' 1"; Senior
: LB

#10 Dylan Buchheit
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DB

#18 Andrew Carney
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: RB

#20 Jaylen Cottrell
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: RB

#8 Terrill Davis
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: WR

#1 Jacob Delso
: 6' 0"; Junior
: WR

#21 Connor Johnson
: 6' 3"; Junior
: LB

#97 Hunter Largent
: 6' 2"; Junior
: DL

#25 Grant Lohr
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: LB